Hypocapnia is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in acute heart failure.

Aims: Acute heart failure (AHF) poses a major threat to hospitalized patients for its high mortality rate and serious complications. The aim of this study is to determine whether hypocapnia [defined as the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO ) below 35 mmHg] on admission could be associated with in-hospital all-cause mortality in AHF.

Methods And Results: A total of 676 patients treated in the coronary care unit for AHF were retrospectively analysed, and the study endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality.